News update – Honda staff given wellbeing coaching

The week, which was run in conjunction with charity Slough Occupational Health for 480 staff at the car and motorbike manufacturer’s Slough site, covered a broad range of issues such as healthy eating, fitness, first aid training and detecting illnesses such as cancers.

David Tugwell, compensation and benefits executive, said: “We wanted to give employees some information about health so they could take better care of themselves.”

Employees could take advantage of minor health checks such as health screening, blood pressure and mobility tests during working hours. Nurses, occupational health providers and representatives from a cancer organisation were all onsite during the week.

Other activities included evening yoga and pilates classes, free head massages and healthy eating options in the staff restaurant.

A desk drop of fruit was used to communicate the week to staff, which was supported by information on the firm’s new HR intranet site.

Honda is now aiming to extend the health-screening programme, which was taken up by 10% of staff during the week, to cover the region’s field-based employees.

The firm is also offering free flu injections to employees this winter, which has so far been taken up by 15% of its Slough-based staff.